diff --git a/src/blackgui/filters/aircraftmodelfilterdialog.ui b/src/blackgui/filters/aircraftmodelfilterdialog.ui
index 5413ba718..eab7d3ad5 100644
--- a/src/blackgui/filters/aircraftmodelfilterdialog.ui
+++ b/src/blackgui/filters/aircraftmodelfilterdialog.ui
@@ -6,12 +6,18 @@
    <rect>
     <x>0</x>
     <y>0</y>
-    <width>400</width>
+    <width>800</width>
     <height>150</height>
    </rect>
   </property>
+  <property name="minimumSize">
+   <size>
+    <width>700</width>
+    <height>150</height>
+   </size>
+  </property>
   <property name="windowTitle">
-   <string>Dialog</string>
+   <string>Model filter dialog</string>
   </property>
   <layout class="QVBoxLayout" name="vl_AircraftModelFilterForm">
    <item>
diff --git a/src/blackgui/models/modelfilter.cpp b/src/blackgui/models/modelfilter.cpp
index 814e87da1..2eb6c127b 100644
--- a/src/blackgui/models/modelfilter.cpp
+++ b/src/blackgui/models/modelfilter.cpp
@@ -7,8 +7,11 @@
  */
 
 #include "blackgui/models/modelfilter.h"
+#include "blackmisc/logmessage.h"
 #include <QtGlobal>
 
+using namespace BlackMisc;
+
 namespace BlackGui
 {
     namespace Models
@@ -48,8 +51,17 @@ namespace BlackGui
                 return v.endsWith(filterNoWildcard, cs);
             }
 
+            // wildcard in middle
+            if (f.contains('*'))
+            {
+                const QStringList parts = v.split('*');
+                if (parts.size() < 2) { return false; }
+                const bool s = v.startsWith(parts.front(), cs) && v.endsWith(parts.back());
+                return s;
+            }
+
             // should never happen
-            qFatal("Illegal state");
+            CLogMessage(this).error(u"Illegal search pattern : '%1'") << f;
             return false;
         }